POLICY FORUM: A Contemporary Perspective on Silviculture Investments

The Canadian forest industry has entered a new phase characterized by shortages of quality raw material in nearly every producing region. The more valuable stands of accessible, mature timber are being steadily depleted. The age class which is immediately behind these old stands is often inadequate to sustain current harvest levels. Because of the age class structure of the forest, the younger stands of preferred specifications are not coming on stream fast enough to prevent a period of short supply. While analyses that recognize forest structure have projected this situation for some time, forest land managers have been slow to respond with adequate budgets and with appropriate silviculture regimes designed to address the emerging problem.